Lance Storm and I did our first show together in a long time, mainly a discussion of steroids in sports, Lance Armstrong, MMA, pro wrestling, etc. This is a bonus show since my usual weekend show was done last night and Lance's regular show will be this Wednesday.

Monday is Raw in San Jose, CA, with both The Rock and Ric Flair booked.

TNA opens its annual European tour on Monday with a show in Dublin. Announced as appearing with no matches listed are Sting, Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, James Storm, A.J. Styles, Ken Anderson, Rob Van Dam, Velvet Sky and Gail Kim.

Tuesday is Smackdown, Main Event and Saturday Morning Slam tapings in Sacramento with both The Rock and Ric Flair booked.

Last night's UFC show is replayed at 11 p.m. tonight on Fuel.

A quick note is that if everything goes as planned, the biggest issue of the year, the 2012 Awards issue, will be up on the site this coming week. Anyone who subscribes today to either a print version of the Observer or the web site will get the issue as part of their subscription. It's possible the issue will be in three weeks depending on the volume of news of the week, but given a Jan. 30 released issue would cover both Royal Rumble and UFC on FOX, having that be the awards issue is something that I'd like to avoid. Balloting for the awards ends tomorrow night at midnight Pacific time. The categories are covered in the Dec. 3 issue which is up in the Observer archives section.

With the wrestling season heating up, we've got a ton of news in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that will be on the site today. In addition, there is a new back issue up on the site from 1985.

In a huge WWE news section, we look at an update on Brock Lesnar in WWE, his contract situation, will he be around after WrestleMania, what should be done at Mania, why the most valuable match he could do with the company isn't a slam dunk, thoughts on the HHH program and more.

We also look at the departure of Eve Torres, her background and why she left.

We've got more on the WWE Hall of Fame for 2013 and a very interesting psychological situation regarding the Hall of Fame and people who have not been on Vince McMahon's good side at times, as well as talk about updates on the names that aren't in that have been most talked about.

We've got notes on someone who is back having influence on the television product, as well as an employee behind the scenes who just left the company. We've got notes on El Generico in WWE and his prospects, as well as an update on what is planned for the Royal Rumble including matches not announced, and how significant each match will be, as well as what has not been decided yet.

We've got notes on Ric Flair going forward in WWE, the reason he was on Raw this past week, and if this is or isn't a good thing for The Miz.

We also look at a number of names on WWE radar who are big names on the independent scene who will be looked at in a few weeks, as well as notes on wrestlers the company has just let go.

We look at the 2013 WWE & TNA PPV schedules and have notes on changes and why for both companies, including the change of a traditional date and the reason it makes sense.

We also note the single most successful segment on Raw in 2012, injury updates, Rock appearances, the Main Event TV show, a talked about Mania match that is no longer expected, lots of news on the weird video game front, update on Rey Mysterio, future of Dolph Ziggler, tons of news on developmental including what wrestles shined in recent appearances including a popular international star.

We also have all the weekend WWE business notes and a rundown of highlights from all the company's arena events.

We also have a look at how TNA is approaching the PPV business in 2013, why the changes are being made, the economics of everything, plans for the rest of this year, how this affects television, full rundowns of the first two taped PPV shows, as well as a look at TNA Genesis.

We also rundown the final Strikeforce show, with a look back at some of the highlights, the biggest shows, the worst shows, a list of Strikeforce fighters going into UFC, some early matches including a show on FOX featuring a number of Strikeforce fighters in featured roles. We look at the all-time title history in the promotion, the future of Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, MMA on Showtime and Scott Coker. We also have rundowns of all the matches with how much everyone got paid,which in and of itself will tell you about why the promotion had the history in the end that it had.

We also have all the details of the Eddie Alvarez lawsuits with Bellator, his exact contract offer from UFC, his contract offer from Bellator, whether it's really a match, as well as additional money offers he received. We look at the entire story step-by-step as well as the possibilities of Bellator going to PPV.

We also look at annual ratings for every WWE property, recent changes to how many people get the various cable shows.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

--El Generico's farewell to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla at the DDT4 tag team tournament

--Return of the OMEGA promotion

--Unique lineups for WrestleMania week indie events

--What wrestlers had, as voted by Observer readers, the most consistent great matches of the last four-and-a-half year and who was No. 1

--What tag team is now changing their gimmick to pattern themselves after a fighter who had super heat

--Upcoming ROH shows

--More on the latest Hulk Hogan lawsuits

--Looking into Hogan's claim of losing $50 million

--Future of Hogan wrestling

--Dixie Carter's cryptic comments about more changes coming this year

--Looking at the big picture of where TNA fits in for Spike TV and why it's safe

--Another TNA wrestler let go

--Noes on British Boot Camp

--Background of Zema Ion and a funny college story

--Two UFC fighters fail steroid tests and are suspended

--Business notes from UFC 155

--Details of Dana White's surgery

--A look at upcoming UFC cards

--Longtime UFC headliner says he's leaving no matter what after his next fight and where he's going

--Chael Sonnen news

--A UFC hotbed market essentially passes a law that will keep UFC from debuting

--New UFC fights announced

--Bellator's debut looked at

--MMA TV show quietly disappeared

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

Sunday's News Update

--There's not a lot of real news coming out of last night's UFC show, but here's a few notes:

Dana White didn't attend the show as he's recovering from surgery on his ear Thursday but he was fine and at work all day, before and during the show. They have a set up in Las Vegas which is like a Mission Control center for him to work when he's not there. Lorenzo Fertitta, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby were all running the show live in Sao Paulo.

Regarding all the questions from last night, Vitor Belfort was asked by ESPN.com about if he's using TRT not all that long ago. This was his response:

"If a question is private, I have the choice to answer or not. If I make it public, it's not private anymore. If I want to say something private, I will say it, but I keep to myself and I respect the laws of the sport. whatever the organization, whatever the law, they know what to do. This is too controversial, what am I going to say something that doesn't accomplish anything? If it's legal, they know what to do. If it's legal, there's nothing to say about it. It's legal."

Regarding White tweeting that Dan Miragliotta is done because he was mad about the late stoppage in the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Thiago Tavares fight, he would have influence over shows in foreign countries because UFC brings its own referees and judges overseas. However, in commission states, the commission choose the referees and judges.

It's one of the reasons that you see John McCarthy refereeing all the time at UFC events, even though he's not on that good terms with UFC and they never bring him to foreign shows. Miragliotta is a New Jersey referee, and unless that commission makes a change, he would on every show in that state, and a lot of other states use him as well, so it's not like he'll disappear even if White doesn't have a change of heart. White has always been critical of Steve Mazzagatti, as have many others, but he's still a ref on virtually every Las Vegas show.

--The WWE is doing market research on WWE.com, asking fans what type of programming they are most interested in for their YouTube channel. Here are the choices:

*Behind the scenes footage, backstage interviews

*Best of video rankings

*Reality shows

*Profiles of wrestlers lives at home and out of the ring

*Recaps of matches and highlights

*WWE game shows with fans as contestants

*Wrestler hosted fitness and exercise shows

*Cartoons with WWE characters

*Classic matches from the past

*News show with fan call-ins

--TNA signed a two year deal with Fuel in Australia, which is a pay channel there. Besides Impact and Xplosion, they will also air British Boot Camp and a show called Unfinished Business, featuring footage from TNA's history. The show has aired in the U.S. on inDemand ppv.

--15 years ago today, the legendary Bobo Brazil (Houston Harris) passed away at the age of 74. He was a very important character historically in the sense he broke the color barrier in a lot of parts of the U.S. Legendary wrestler and photographer Tony Lanza was 84 when he passed away eight years ago. And former Texas promoter Grey Pierson was 61 when he passed away eight years ago (thanks to GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com).

--I really liked the Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar UFC Super Bowl weekend hype commercial. That show is going to be interesting because it's got a very deep undercard with Alistair Overeem and Rashad Evans both fighting. The main event is a match some fans have been looking forward to for years and Demian Maia vs. Jon Fitch is a strong match for a second bout on the card. However, Aldo and Edgar individually are not draws.

--A mention for those of you who didn't listen to it, we've had tremendous feedback to last Wednesday's Observer Radio talking about the history of Houston wrestling with Peter Birkholz. Particularly if you grew up near Houston, it's a must listen.

--For those of you who do the phone-in and e-mail polls, I've made a decision not to do it for every UFC show as we've done in the past. It's just too much to do it for UFC every week. We'll do it from this point for all WWE and TNA PPV shows, all UFC PPVs, UFC on FOX specials (including the FX prelims), plus iPPV shows from New Japan and ROH and anything else that pops up that would be consider a major show.

I'm not going to do it for weekly Bellator shows, but going forward, we may do it for a major show if it appears something has built up above usual interest levels. We will publish letters on any of the shows, whether they are Raw, Bellator, UFC's and whatever that we don't do polls on.

--We didn't have the this day in history in yesterday's update, but there is one major historical note that 133 years ago yesterday was the first pro wrestling show ever in Madison Square Garden. That's correct, it was January 19, 1880, where William Muldoon, pro wrestling's first U.S. superstar, retained his American Greco-Roman wrestling heavyweight championship beating Thiebaud Bauer, who as legend has it, is a very distant relative of Court Bauer. It was also 21 years ago yesterday when Ric Flair won his first WWF title in the Royal Rumble match in Albany that was probably the most famous of the early Rumbles.

--In UFC picks last night, I had a bad night, only getting the Nurmagomedov fight right. Mike Sawyer (picked Belfort) and Josh Nason opened 3-1. Mike Sempervive (also picked Belfort), Todd Martin and Oliver Copp were 2-2 and I was 1-3.

--Also wanted to make mention of the death of Stan Musial and Earl Weaver yesterday: two of the all-time greats in baseball, Musial as one of the greatest players in history who was the St. Louis sports icon, and Weaver as a Hall of Fame manager.

--The new Sports Illustrated has a full page Bellator ad with their eight big stars in a photo. The guy they put front and center as their biggest star was Michael Chandler and not King Mo.

--This was not national, but there was a 60 second Bellator ad in some markets during last night's UFC show on FX. I also saw a Royal Rumble ad during the show.

--Donald Cerrone was on last Tuesday's episode of "Justified" on FX doing an underground MMA fight. He did the job. (thanks to Don Boike)

41 years ago: Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens won the AWA world tag titles for the first time, beating Red Bastien & The Crusher in Denver. Stevens & Bockwinkel went on to be arguably the best tag team champions in the history of the promotion.